Conveniently located minutes from Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids, Plainwell offers unique local shops and events, restaurants and hotels, and two nationally recognized historic districts that can be enjoyed by walking our river walk along the Kalamazoo River and Mill Race. Many find Plainwell to be not only an ideal place to live and raise a family, but to relocate, expand or start their businesses.
The City of Plainwell's Economic Development Department works with a variety of partners and economic development practitioners at the local, State and Federal level. Use these resources to grow, relocate or start your business here in the City of Plainwell.
Guides and programs
- Chamber of Commerce grants for small business guide
- Chamber of Commerce step-by-step how to build a business guide
- Pure Michigan: Michigan Business One Stop
- Grow your business with MEDC services
- Michigan Small Business Development Center
- SCORE, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
- State of Michigan: Guide to Starting a New Business (PDF)
Start a business
The decision to start a business is a significant one that is quickly followed by equally significant questions: What type of business? What business structure is advantageous to my venture? What makes an effective business plan? Where will the financing come from? What licenses, permits and registrations are required by the City of Plainwell government?
The resources below can help you take the next step toward business ownership. They walk you through the process, from deciding your company's legal structure, to developing a business and marketing plan, to registering your business with Allegan County.
- Small Business Administration (SBA) helps small business owners and entrepreneurs pursue the American dream. SBA is the only cabinet-level federal agency fully dedicated to small business and provides counseling, capital, and contracting expertise as the nation's only go-to resource and voice for small businesses.
- Find property to house your business by contacting Justin Lakamper, City Manager, at jlakamper@plainwell.org or City Hall at 269-685-6821.
- Allegan County Clerk and/or the U.S. Trademark Office to register your business name.
- Check with the State of Michigan and/or the County Clerk for special licensing or permit requirements such as food or drink licenses.
- Allegan County Health Department provides soil and sedimentation, food service and other health related permits throughout Allegan County.
- Internal Revenue Service to register for a federal employer identification number and payment of federal taxes.
- Michigan Department of Treasury to register for payment of state taxes.
- Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to check environmental regulations.
- Building and zoning ordinances to make sure a location is in compliance, or to find out if a property is on the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing structure.
To confirm with the City: the old page said to find property by contacting "Denise Siegel at jlakamper@plainwell.org". The name and email did not match, so this now points to Justin Lakamper and City Hall. Who should business owners contact about property?
Useful resources
- Allegan County Clerk's Office, 269-673-0205. Business license services throughout Allegan County.
- Lakeshore Advantage, 616-772-5226. Traditional economic development services, including site location and business expansion assistance.
- Michigan Economic Development Corporation, 888-522-0103. In collaboration with more than 100 economic development partners, markets Michigan as the place to do business, assists businesses in their growth strategies, and fosters the growth of vibrant communities across the state.
- Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center, 888-414-6682. Business services for small to mid-size manufacturers, including performance benchmarking, lean enterprise, market diversification and other assessment services.
- MSU Cooperative Extension, Allegan County, 269-673-0370. Business educational services, especially related to agriculture in Allegan County.
- Michigan Works Association, 800-285-WORKS (9675). Services and support for Michigan's workforce development system, including professional development opportunities for members.
- Small Business Development Center, West Michigan Region, 833-522-0025. Business development services throughout Allegan County. Ed Garner, Regional Director, garnered@gvsu.edu.